more? well he did say please... please and thank you. pass it on. learning how to kick flip 6 stairs takes determination. so will getting into college. i've got what it takes. so do you. >> get ready for "teen kids news." here's what's coming up. >> these people are helping their community hospital one step at a time. >> middle school can be a nightmare for girls. a survival guide coming up. >> when there's a disaster, should the government protect pets as well as people? we'll hear what teens have to say. >> coming up, we'll visit the beautiful city of prague. >> that and more next on "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. >> a lot of us join walkathons because we have a personal connection to the cause. but as emily reports, one boy's connection is not only personal, it's amazing. >> there's always excitement when an event like this is about to begin. the crowds, the signs, the different groups with their team shirts. >> let's go! [ cheers and applause ] >> this one-mile march is to raise money for the maria fareri children's hospital in new york's westchester county. it's also raising awareness about the need for transplant donors. that's why it's so special that 11-year-old tyler is here. this is not the first walkathon

for tyler. the last time he joined this event, he was just hours from undergoing surgery for a new liver. >> i was really sick, you know? so i had to get a liver transplant. >> tyler had been battling a liver disease for years, and it was getting worse. to get a donated liver, you need to be on a national list. for tyler, time was running out. the hospital's medical team worked hard to get him moved to the top of the list. even so, the wait took more than a year. >> and every day we were just waiting. is today going to be the day? is today going to be the day? >> [ sighs ] it's heart-wrenching. you're always waiting, looking at the phone, waiting to get that phone call. and when the phone call actually came in, i think i just sat on the phone speechless, no words coming out of my mouth, and tyler was with me. he just looked at me, and he knew immediately what was happening. >> when they arrived at the hospital, something else was happening that very day -- a walkathon just like this one. that's when tyler did something

very unexpected. while the o.r. staff prepared for his surgery, sick as he was, tyler decided to join the walkathon. i just wanted to, you know -- surgery's a big thing, and i just wanted to clear my mind. i just wanted to, you know, walk around, you know, just, um, get my mind off what's going on. >> as we were walking, i kept saying "are you okay? do you want to stop?" he's like "no, let's just keep going and see how far i make it." and as we were talking, before i knew it we were at the end, at the finish line, with the surgeons waiting at the finish line telling us, "all right, guys. it's time to go. we're ready. we need to go in." >> i think it was a great decision. it showed the perseverance that he has, and it showed his understanding that he was going to get better after a transplant, and that's what maria fareri children's hospital helped him achieve. >> organs are donated during tragic times. when a loved one is dying, a decision can be made that can save someone else -- someone like tyler. what would you say to the family that donated the liver that you got?

>> uh, thank you, you know? you saved my life. um, you know, if it weren't for you, i might not be standing here right now. um, so, thank you with all my heart. um, and, you know, i'm sorry for your loss, but, you know, i love you for what you did. >> tyler is an inspiration for all the children and the families that we care for here. he's overcome so many great medical challenges, and to see him out here today, it's just an inspiration for everyone. >> and that inspiration is going national. tyler's now an ambassador for children's miracle network hospitals. for tyler, giving back means more than just talk. as the saying goes, you have to walk the walk. and he certainly does. for "teen kids news," i'm emily g. >> there's more "teen kids news" coming up next. >> we'll be right back.

>> it's no secret that middle-school girls can be mean. their bad behavior is a constant theme in movies and tv shows. but as jacelyn reports, there are ways to avoid being a victim. >> well, the problem with middle school in general is that it's all about who's the best, whether it be at singing or looking the prettiest or having the nicest boyfriend or whatever. and there are cliques and there are bullies and there's just so much to deal with. >> there's is a lot of drama. theres things like, you know, one girl said this about the other girl and, you know, this girl likes this boy. >> you want to be more "in" and popular, and it doesn't really matter in elementary school like that. >> does that sound familiar? the challenges of middle school can be especially tough for girls. >> i think girls handle social situations very differently from the way our boys do. um, girls are tough on one

another. >> and "doc" wilson should know. for most of his years at new york's masters school, it was all girls. now it's co-ed. >> i mean, i've seen boys have an argument or maybe even a fight in the morning and go out of the building at the end of the day arm-in-arm. and i've said it myself and other teachers say, "but didn't you guys have an argument this morning?" "oh, yeah, but that was this morning." they can let it go a little more easily. you girls, and i think i'm right in saying this, hold on to things for a much longer time, and that spills over into your interactions in the classroom, the way you experiment with friendships. it's tough being a girl. but i don't think you're inherently meaner than the boys -- just different. >> as part of our special series on surviving middle school, we found some issues are the same for guys and girls. for example, guys talked about the challenge of dealing with more difficult schoolwork.

>> well, there is definitely a lot more work and more projects, and you have a lot more expectation to do better. >> but with girls, in addition to academic stress, there's a lot of social pressure -- pressure to look perfect, to wear the right clothes, and hang with the right clique. >> sometimes i feel under pressure to be perfect. >> you're exposed to all kinds of social media. you're blasted every time you turn around by images of what people are supposed to look like, what's cool, what isn't cool. >> well, it's harder 'cause the grade is a lot bigger and so there are a lot more kids. and it's harder to fit in. and everyone is kind of exclusive, and everyone has their, like, really "in" clique, i guess. and everyone wants to be at the top of the pyramid in popularity, so it is kind of a competition. >> so, what do you do about it? an action plan, when we come back.

>> we're back with our special

report on surviving middle school. >> in middle school, kids develop new ways to hurt each other. and, unfortunately, so much of that has to do with exclusion and not allowing people to be in your group. >> picking who's in and who's not -- that's what gives mean girls their power. when girls can, like, tell who's in and who's out, it makes them feel, like, powerful and it makes them feel like, "okay, you can be my friend. you can't be my friend." it makes them feel good about themselves, really. >> there was a time that i was being cyberbullied by a girl that used to be friends with me. and she was saying things to me like "you know, you should go kill yourself. if i want to talk about something that's pathetic, i just bring you up." um, and i just kinda killed her with kindness by being like, "oh, okay. thank you. if that's what you think about me, then go ahead. you look great today." so, but... yeah, i have had my share of mean people. >> uh, i have met a mean girl. and she invited all of my close friends to a party except for me. >> haley kilpatrick remembers

how that feels. that's why she created "girl talk" when she was a teen. >> "girl talk" is a student-to-student mentoring program where high-school girls mentor middle-school girls. i started it in 2002 in hopes of helping my sister make middle school easier for her, because it was so challenging for me. >> "girl talk" clearly meets a need. the organization is now global, reaching more than 40,000 girls. the website provides a tool kit for starting your own "girl talk" chapter. it's a way to turn negative energy into something positive. >> i think the real magic happens with these middle-school girls, and they're hearing these messages that it's not okay to exclude, it's not okay to treat each other the way you are treating your peers, it's not okay to bully and participate in cyberbullying. >> building on the knowledge she has gained through her organization, haley wrote a book about surviving middle school. it's called "the drama years." here's some of her advice.

identify sources of stress, so you can develop strategies for managing them. instead of yearning for brand names, set your own style. >> because, a lot of times, what happens is -- let's say you, like, wear a new kind of clothing that just came out and everyone's like, "ew. that's so weird." and then like three days later or a week later, you see everyone's wearing the thing that they thought that was so weird! >> haley also urges everyone to do some volunteering and not just because it looks good on a college application. >> because being involved in something bigger than yourself really helps put your problems in perspective. and, all of a sudden, it doesn't matter if you have the right clothes, if you have the right car or the right house. and we found that it's working for all girls of all different backgrounds through "girl talk." >> what also works is extending a helping hand to others. >> cliques are real. they're part of life. i understand that. but put yourself in the shoes of the kid who's on the outside

trying to find a way to enter the group. if you can manage in your heart of hearts to somehow, someway reach out to that youngster, i think you'd be well served. we've all been there. and you know what? even though you're on the inside today, those tables can turn mighty fast on you. so, at least be willing to extend that hand of welcome to another child, 'cause you might find yourself in that situation yourself in the not too distant future. >> just be yourself, honestly. because if you try too hard you end up -- you might be in the more popular group, but you're not really happy with your friends and who you are. so just be yourself and work hard. [ laughs ] and you'll get by. >> i mean, obviously, there are people i don't like and people who don't like me, but once you meet the right people, then you're good, i guess. >> that's basically it. you just have to trust that you

know who you are and you have to stick to who you are. >> i agree. be yourself and also branch out. there are a lot of new people, and make friends with everyone. try to be, like, friendly and outgoing. >> in case you feel like you're the only one suffering through middle school, listen to this quote from a former student. the person who said that is one of today's most popular celebs -- taylor swift! so, no one is immune to middle-school misery. >> are you feeling hot today? it may be because temperatures have gone up over the past century. many believe it's because of global warming. in the u.s., temperatures have increased the most in the northeast and the least in south. if you're in rhode island, don't be surprised if you're feeling hotter than normal. that's because the temperature has gone up more there than in any other state. why rhode island? scientists aren't entirely sure.

i wish i was in school. [overlapping chatter] if only i had a math test today. or a book report to give. i wish i was in school. i'll stay after class. i'll clean the chalkboard. i'll do extra homework. i'll skip recess. i wish i was in school. i wish i was in school. i really wish i was in school. man: school ends, but free lunches for your kids don't have to.

find your local food bank at feedingamerica.org/summermeals for help. together, we're feeding america. >> in "speak of the week," it's your turn to tell us what you think. >> we've seen it happen. disaster strikes, like a hurricane. the authorities rescue the people, but often their pets get left behind. so, do you think tax dollars should be spent evacuating animals from disaster? >> i love animals. so i'm an animal lover. >> yes, 'cause i'm a vegetarian. so i should answer that question yes. >> i don't. i mean, personally, i'm all for animal rights, but i feel like there are a lot more pertinent issues than evacuating animals from disasters. >> although that is important, i don't think that should be the primary use of our tax dollars. >> um, if they're domestic animals, yes. if they're used for great, um --

great uses, such as maybe elephants in india or, um, horses in places that don't use engines and, um, vehicles such as tractors. >> i think tax dollars should be used for evacuating animals from disasters because animals don't exactly have the intelligence we do. so they can't really help themselves. they need help more than we do. >> uh, yeah. i think there is too much animal abuse in this country. and, um, when i have to pay taxes, that's what i want it to go towards. >> most of the teens we spoke to agree. they say spend the money, save the pets. if this issue is important to you, look into joining the efforts of animal rescue organizations, such as the aspca. >> this report is brought to you by yahoo! digital crave. >> we're not even close to the holidays, and yet there is a ton of new tech available -- games, gadgets, and gear to get excited about. so, here's a look at some fall highlights. we'll start off with the best-selling computer game "mists of pandaria," the latest expansion to

"world of warcraft." this is the number-one subscription-based massively multiplayer role-playing game. more than 10 million people are playing this game worldwide. and "mists of pandaria" is the fourth expansion, offering the most content ever in a new installment. it has a new race -- the pandaren -- a new class, seven new zones to explore, and a lot more. the game costs $60 for the digital deluxe edition available online. speaking of computers, you might have heard the latest buzzword is ultrabooks, like this lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon. ultrabooks are super-thin, lightweight, and durable computers, often with aircraft-grade aluminum instead of plastic. ultrabooks also boot up right away, they offer a ton of power with an intel core processor, and they last all day on a single charge. expect to hear a lot more about ultrabooks in the coming months and years. next up, hard drives come in all shapes and sizes. and if you're looking for a fast portable drive, check out this seagate slim. it's as thin as a pencil, yet it can store about 300 h.d. movies. you can also back up files with

one click or schedule it to back it up when you like, such as, say, every other day. my favorite feature is the ability to download and back up facebook photo albums with one click. the seagate slim drive costs $120. and finally, we've got the intuition from lg. it's part phone, part tablet -- a phablet, if you will -- with a stunning 5-inch screen, ideal for reading digital magazines and e-books. and you won't believe how fast you can download content, as the intuition works on verizon's 4g lte network, likely faster than your home's own broadband connection. another cool feature is called "quickmemo." snap a screen shot on the device, draw or annotate on it, and then send it off via e-mail. this android device has access to the google play store and its more than 500,000 downloadable apps. well there you have it -- games, gadgets, and gear to help keep you warm as the weather cools this fall. for "teen kids news," i'm marc saltzman. >> when someone is called a rat, it's clearly an insult. you're saying that the person is selfish and sneaky.

well, it seems that rats -- the kind with whiskers and a tail -- aren't all bad. researchers gave rats a choice between food or helping a fellow rat that's trapped, well, like a rat. surprisingly, the rat passed up the food to help the trapped rat. i guess rats get a bad rap, but they're still dirty, disgusting creatures. i hope you find a home. i hope you find a home. hey, maybe you'll be picked next. maybe you'll be picked next. we've been caged together too long. we've been caged together too long. how come nobody ever picks me? maybe they're looking for somebody different. pick me! well, the shelter's closing up for another day. we didn't get picked. i know.

tomorrow. guaranteed. 't the only place kids find drugs. sometimes they find them at home. you can help stop prescription drug abuse by safeguarding medications in your home, encouraging friends and family members to do the same. and asking your pharmacist how to dispose of medications you no longer need. can you imagine a place where these grow everywhere? yes! it's called the forest... a magical place to enjoy with your family ♪ music so disver the forest and explore all the wonder that's there

visit discovertheforest.org to find a forest near you >> selling girl scout cookies is a tradition that's almost a century old. back in 1917, girl scouts in oklahoma baked cookies and sold them to support the troops fighting in world war i. the cookies became so popular that the scouts just couldn't bake enough. therefore, big companies were needed to take over the manufacturing process. today, cookies are sold annually but for only four months -- from

january to april. yet they help the girl scouts raise $700 million a year. >> who says time travel is science fiction? lauren takes us on a trip to a city where the past is very present. >> visiting prague is like stepping back in time. from the narrow cobblestone streets to the towering cathedrals, this is a place steeped in history. today prague is the capital of the czech republic, a former communist area in central europe. this is the changing of the guard at prague castle. according to the guinness book of records, it's the biggest castle in the world. begun around 900 c.e., prague castle is a hodgepodge of buildings erected over the centuries. here's where prince wenceslas lived. yes, he's the same good king wenceslas we sing about during christmas. >> ♪ good king wenceslas looked out on the feast of stephen ♪

>> prague's glory days were during the reign of charles iv. in the 1300s, charles made the city part of the holy roman empire. he also established charles university, the first university in central europe. prague still attracts students from all over. >> it's my favorite city that i've been to in the world. and i love the architecture. i love the culture. i love how efficient public transportation is. >> he's right. getting around prague is easy. from trains to trams to horse-drawn carriages and river boats for sightseers. but most of all, it's a city for walking. there's so much to see and hear. [ small ensemble plays ] and you had better plan on exercise to work off the great food you find around every corner. a particular treat is a tasty

pastry called "trdelnik." dough is rolled around a stick, heated, and then dusted with cinnamon. delicious! >> everybody should come to prague to see, like, remnants of communism. and it's great, 'cause it's a bridge between western and eastern europe. so, prague's, like, a really unique place in europe. >> while i was there, the city was mourning the death of its first freely elected president, vaclav havel. in 1989, he helped lead the young country from communism to democracy. since the transition was peaceful, it's known as prague's velvet revolution. one thing you can't do in prague is lose track of time. clocks are everywhere, all shapes and sizes. in fact, the city is home to one of the oldest and most unusual clocks in the world. called an "astronomical clock," it dates back to 1410. it not only tells the time, it serves as a sort of planetarium. it shows the positions of the sun and moon, the month, sunrise

and sunset, and much more. every hour, people gather to watch a mechanical show that has been running for hundreds of years. it begins with "the walk of the apostles" and ends with death tolling the hour. there's certainly not enough time in one report to show you all the sights. this is just a taste of a city i love. as they say in prague, na shledanou. that means "goodbye." for "teen kids news," i'm lauren. >> that's all for this week. thanks for joining us. >> we'll see you next time with more "teen kids news."

>> here's a shout-out to p.r. newswire for including "teen kids news" on their big screen in times square, new york city.

[distant club music playing] [keys jingle] man: looking for these? you drive buzzed, it could be one very expensive ride. first, you got to make bail. then pay me to get your car back. your insurance premiums will go through the roof. and my legal fees just keep adding up. all told, it could end up costing you $10,000. announcer: nothing kills a buzz like getting pulled over for buzzed driving because buzzed driving is drunk driving. get some frids, loser!